Visit BCHS Library Collections

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The Society's Library collection comprises family genealogy, diaries, and manuscripts; church, cemetery, and bible records; books, clippings, and on local and county history, the Revolutionary War, and historic architecture; postcards, photos, videos, atlases, and maps. They are (were) located at Felican College (Lodi campus library) and available regularly once a week. No microfilm census records.

Open Wednesdays, 10:30 am to 5:30 pm (Staffed by BCHS volunteers)
http://www.felician.edu/aboutfelician/index.asp?psection=location

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Note: Our library collections are not accessible in the month of August.

Update: The library is open Wednesdays, 11:30 am to 5:00 pm, as of January 2008.
Stop by, and volunteer if inclined. Steve and Doug are looking for help cataloging and organizing collections.

List of items available at the library:
http://www.bergencountyhistory.org/Pages/librarycollections.html

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BCHS Library on the Move
Library & Rare Document Collection

After being at Felician College in Lodi for 10 years, the BCHS Library is “on the move.”  We have temporary quarters in a Westwood storefront at 90 Center Avenue.  This week a crew of Society volunteers and a professional mover packed, moved and unpacked the Library.  As of Saturday 1/8 the Library is in some semblance of order and ready for visitors! 

The following people made this move happen: Mike Trepicchio, Society President, procured beautiful, big space in Westwood which we truly appreciate. Steve Weigl, our Librarian, Dee Cobianchi and Averil Genton, Library volunteers, and Society members Bill Farrelly, John Heffernan, Frank Lawrence, Peggy Norris, Deborah Powell, Joe Suplicki, Manfred Wegner, and Kevin Wright accomplished the move.  Anita DiGiulio facilitated insurance transfer. Thank you to volunteers!

The Library collection is amazing—there are treasures waiting to be discovered.  But we are at a cross-roads.

1. For the first time in Society history we have to pay rent to make our collection accessible.  We cannot stay where we are and need to find permanent, preferably free, space to house our collection.
2. We need furnishings:
  a. Heavy-duty shelving for books (up to 200 linear feet of shelves) Preferably matching
  b. Desk chair
  c. A new computer and monitor for the Library
3. We need volunteers—no special experience required:
  a. Data entry or cataloging
  b. Putting books in order
  c. Users, who might become assistants to keep the Library open more hours
4. We need funds:       
  a. To defray the cost of our rent
  b. For archival boxes for housing items in our collection
  c. To purchase cataloging software so that we can create the Society’s first online catalog for its Library.
5. We need researchers to come in and use these wonderful resources.


Visiting the Bergen County Historical Society Library:
Location
90 Center Avenue, Westwood, NJ

Mailing Address
P.O. Box 55, River Edge, New Jersey 07661-0055

Hours Open
Wednesdays: 12 - 5:30 pm; 4th Friday of Month: 7 pm - 10 pm; and by appointment
Check website for additional hours & info

Parking
There is metered parking on the street and in the Municipal Lot directly across the street.  DO NOT park in the Diner parking lot.

Contact
www.bergencountyhistory.org
thebchslibrary@gmail.com

-- Peggy Norris